Combination water circulator and feed water heating unit for boilers



Dec. 18, 1934. E, H, w o r AL 1,984,608

COMBINATION WATER CIRCULATOR AND FEED WATER HEATING UNIT FOR BOILERS Filed Feb. 3, 1933 w//9m a: i INVENTORY Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES mates PATENT ERS Earl H. Waldrop and Gleorge M. Petty, Shawnee, O a.

Application February 3, 1933, Serial No. 655,078

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to water circulating apparatus for boilers, and more particularly to circulators which function through the action of heat in the fire-box upon water conveying ele ments exposed therein. The invention also re lates to apparatus embodied within the circulator elements for heating feed-water while being injected into the boiler, and a means for inducing circulation of the boiler water independent of the pumping mechanism.

The objects of our invention are to provide a device of this class which is new, novel, practical and of utility; the circulator unit of which may be stayed, thus insuring safety in operation; which will distribute the circulating water over a large area of the crown-sheet thus positively keeping it immersed even should the water in the boiler become lower than the crown-sheet; which is so constructed that circulation of the water is positively obtained and at a comparatively high velocityithe circulator unit of which houses in its lower portion an induction element to impel the circulation boiler-water and feed-water respectively; the induction element of which is easily removable for cleaning and which is accessible for inspection; which will use the force of the circulating Water to expedite and accelerate movement of the boiler-water and the feed-water; the entire installation of which may be effected with out impairing the requite flexibility to accommodate expansion or contraction, and without impairing the working strength or the capacity of the boiler structure; which will strengthen rather than weaken the usual boiler structure; the induction element of which may be installed or removed without removing any of the usual appurtenances of the boiler or fire-box; and which will be efiicient in accomplishing all of the purposes for which it is intended.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear, our invention consists in the construction novel features, and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims appended hereto, and illustrated in the one-sheet drawing of which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a typical boiler, showing in side elevation one embodiment of the device installed for use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the induction element, shown in partial side elevational section in order to better illustrate its construction;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary elevational view showing a portion of the circulator element in which terminates the lower extremities of the circulator pipes;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of a boiler showing in side elevation a slightly different embodiment than that illustrated in Fig. 1 of the means for delivering feedwater to the circulator element.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all of the figures.

It is understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, shape and weight, and other details of construction within the scope of our invention, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or broad principles of our invention, and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof; and it is also understood that the drawing is to be interpreted as being illu trative and not restrictive.

Practical embodiments of the invention as i1- lustrated in the drawing comprise the following described structures.

Referring more particularly now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, in which the reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a boiler stream turret, and 2 indicates a steam pipe leading therefrom and the lower extremity of which connects to a usual injector or other pumping mechanism, not shown, leading from a water supply. 3 indicates a feedpipe leading from the injector and through which water is conveyed through a boiler check valve 4 and thence through a curved pipe 5 which terminates in a coupling member 6, said coupling member being connected to a flanged seating member 7 having on its reverse face a circular groove by which a hermetically sealed joint is established with the beaded end of an induction element 9,

which passes through the flue-sheet 8 of the boiler as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The flanged seating member is rigidly secured to the flue-sheet 8 by studs or similar means. The induction element 9 has at its forward extremity through slots 10, said slots 10 also extending through a tubular reinforcing sleeve 11 located within the elements 9 and through which the boiler-water is induced to circulate. Sleeve 11 also houses an induction nozzle 12 in the position indicatedrelative to the slots 10. The induction member 9 extends rearwardly and terminates in fitting the flanged portion of which is rigidly The circulator element 16 consists substantially of two complemental sections 17 which are joined in edge to edge contact by meansoi. welded seams 18. Said casing 16 has its lower extremity rigidly connected to the lower portion of theusual throat sheet of the boiler by any'suitable means and extends therethrough, rearwardly and upwardly from said throat sheet through the firebox, its upper portion connecting into the usual back fire-box sheet at a, point just below the usual crown-sheet 22 of the boiler. It will be understood of course that the casing 16 communicates through said throat sheet and the back fire-box sheet with the interior of the boiler.

Introduced within the upper portion 17 of the casing or element 16 is a desired number of flanged openings 20 each of which receives the lower extremity of one of a like plurality of circulator pipes 21 which lead from theca-sing 16 upwardly through said crown-sheet 22.

The boiler is provided with suitable means in the back head sheet and the front flue-sheet course substantially in alinement with the parts of the device communicating therewith to provide for inspection and cleaning, not shown, said means preferably being-washout plugs.

It may be seen from the foregoing description that since the casing 16 is considerably larger in diameter than the induction discharge pipe the initial velocity of the water, leaving said discharge pipe will be materially reduced upon entering the casing 16 and therefore will have more time in passing therethrough to become heated to a high temperature by mixing with the heated boiler-water circulating in said casing. It may also be seen that the boiler-water will be forced upwardly within the casing 16 in a substantially rapid manner by thermal induction,

this action drawing with the boiler-water entering the casing 16 from parts of the boiler adjacent to the throat sheet, boiler-water from the forwardmost portion of the boiler into the slots 10 in the induction element 9, and thereby inducing circulation of water from all parts of the boiler.

Simultaneously with the rising action of the water in the casing 16 a portion of the water is directed upwardly through the circulator pipes 21 and is discharged therefrom upon the upper surface of the crown-sheet 22 thereby tending to keep the crown-sheet constantly immersed. The action of the water in being discharged from the upper extremity of said casing is such as to induce a greatercirculation of the boiler-water on its path to the lower opening in the casing since the water being greatly increased in temperature by passing upwardly through the casing in that portion of'the fire-box which is in direct contact with the heat, will have a greatly increased tendency toward the outlet into the water-space of the boiler as provided for in the discharge opening of the upper portion'of the heater casing element 16.

It can be seen that the upward flow of the water is retarded by the comparatively large area casing is made in two complemental sections which are welded together edge to edge as shown at 18. Water channels 19 extend along the sides of the casing 16 in a longitudinal direction and for the full length of the casing. Said channels not only increase the capacity of the casing 16 as a means of circulation of water but also provide it with additional strength and act as a means for receiving staybolts 19. Upwardly extending flanges or necks also provide additional strength to the upper portion 17 of the casing 16 and act as a meansfor receiving the lower extremities of the circulator pipes 21.

In some types of boilers it may be found desirable and more practical to house the pipe 15 entirely within the water compartment of the boiler; In Fig. 5 is illustrated structure which may be used when such occasion arises.

It is thought that the operation of this device will be obvious and that a person skilled in the art could readily install and operate the device from the foregoing description.

Obviously the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described herein; and is applicable for uses and purposes other than as detailed, and we there fore consider as our own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the forms of the device herein described as fairly fall within the scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, whatis claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a water circulator for boilers, a tubular member within the water compartment of a boiler, said member having a plurality of lateral perforations, a feed-water inlet pipe disposed axially within said member and extending through the perforated portion thereof in spaced relation to its walls, and a circulator element in the boilers fire-box communicating between the lower and upper portions of, saidwater compartment, the exhaust end of said member being smaller in circumference than said circulator element and projecting thereinto.

2. In a water circulator for boilers, a tubular member within the water compartment of a boiler, said member having a plurality of lateral perforations, a feed-water inlet pipe disposed axially within said member and extending through the perforated portion thereof in spaced relation .to its walls, and a circulator element in the boilers other than through her, said member also adapted to receive water from said water compartment, and a circulator element extending between the upper and lower portions of the boilers water compartment and adapted to cause by thermal induction circulation of water between said portions of said compartment, the exhaust end of said tubular member communicating with said circulator element in such a manner that water in the lower portion of said compartment may enter the oirculator element by means other than through the tubular member.

4. In a water circulator for boilers, a tubular member within the water compartment of a boiler, a feed-water inlet pipe having its exhaust end communicating with the interior of said member, said member also adapted to receive water from said water compartment at a point adjacent the point at which the feed-water is received thereinto, and a circulator element extending between the upper and lower portions of the boilers water compartment and adapted to cause by thermal induction circulation of water between said portions of said compartment, the exhaust end of said tubular member communicating with said circulator element in such a manner that water in the lower portion of said compartment may enter the circulator element by means other than through the tubular member.

5. Organization as described in claim 1, in which the feed Water inlet pipe is adapted for removal from the tubular member without the removal of the tubular member from the water compartment.

6. Organization as described in claim 1, in which the tubular member and the injector nozzle are adapted for removal from the water compartment without afiecting the connection of the circulator element with the boiler.

7. Organization as described in claim 1, in which the tubular member is adapted for disconnection from the circulator element without 20 being removed from the water compartment.

EARL H. WALDROP. GEORGE M. PETTY. 

